Apparatus for propelling and steering vessels



(No Model.)

M. 0. PARKER. APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING VESSELS. No.450,677.

Patented Apr. 21, 1891 UMTED STATES PATENT ()FFIcE.

MELVIN O. PAR-KER, OF ROCHESTER, l\'E\V YORK.

APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING V ESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,677, dated April21, 1891.

Application filed August 9, 1888. Serial No. 282,383. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MELVIN O. PARKER, of Rochester, in the county ofMonroe and State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Apparatusfor Propelling and Steering Vessels; and I dohereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had to the drawings accompanying thisspecification.

My improvement relates to apparatus for propelling and steering vessels,and is of that kind where the propeller itself acts as the rudder bybeing turned or deflected to one side of the rightlinein which thevessel moves forward.

The invention consists in the eonstruction and arrangement hereinafterdefinitely described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal vertical section ofthe rear portion of a vessel, showing my improvement applied thereto.Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectionof the cylinder in line a: on of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a longitudinalvertical section of the cylinder, showing a modification.

A indicates the rear portion of a vessel, and B is a shallow socket orseat therein which supports the cylinder.

0 is the cylinder, set upright in the socket B and capable of freerotary motion. The bottom of the cylinder is closed to exclude water,but the top is open to admit the working parts.

D is a propeller of usual form, having a shaft a, which passes into orthrough the cylinder and has its bearings therein, being arranged toturn freely, in whatever position it may rest, when carried around bythe rotation of the cylinder.

Z) is a bevel-gear on shaft (6, which engages with a correspondingbevel-gear c on a vertical shaft (Z, that rests in suitable bearings f fand extends up through the top of the cylinder.

On the upper end of shaft d is a bevel-gear 9, that engages with asimilar gear h, attached to the driving-shaft h. The driving'shaftreceives motion from any suitable source. It will be seen that by theuse of this arrangement the propeller can he constantly drivenindependent of the motion of the cylinder, as the gears will in no wisebe impeded by the rotation of the cylinder.

On the upper end of the cylinder 0 is a coggear 1', with which engagesworms 7; 7.1, attached to twin shafts Z Z on opposite sides. The shaftsZ Z are engaged at the opposite ends by a system of gears mm. 777. nubywhich equal motion is imparted to each. The shafts receive motion by anysuitable means. The cylinder is rotated by this means.

In this invention a rudder is dispensed with entirely. The cylinder issimply turned to the right or left, thereby carrying the propeller toone side and at an angle to the right line of the ship. The reaction ofthe propeller on the water when standing at such an angle will throw thestern of the vesselaround. Under ordinary circumstances but a slightturn of the cylinder is required, as the propeller is powerful in actionand applies direct force to turn the vessel; but in cases ofemergency-for instance, where there is danger of collision -thepropeller can be carried around at a right angle, as shown by the dottedlines at the top in Fig. 3. The action is much more prompt and effectivethan in the use of a common rudder, as the whole power of the propelleris used to turn the ship, whereas in the use of a rudder the actiondepends on the forward motion of the vessel and the reaction of thewater on the rudder set at an angle.

This invention is applicable to all kinds and sizes of vessels, and canbe used on small boats operated by a propeller. The cylinder isessential to give proper bearing and support to the propeller, and alsoto inclose and carry the gearing and insulate it from the water.

Fig. 4: shows a modification embodying two propellers. Any desirednumber maybe used.

If desired, friction wheels or rollers may be used under the cylinder torelieve friction.

Having described my invention, I donot claim a rudder provided with apropeller operated by separate gearing, but

\Vhatl claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a propelling and steering apparatus for vessels, the combination,with the water-tight cylinder 0, the propeller D, hung therein, and

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geeringfor giving motion to the propellelgof In Witness whereof I havehereunto p the twin shafts Z Z, provided with \vofmelc is, nlypame inthe presence of two snbseilblng '10 which engage a, cog-rim on the outeredge of witnes ee. I

the cylinder in diametrically-opposite posi- MELVIN Or PARKER nons, anda system of gears m m m-m en gaging together and giving equal motion tothe Witnesses:

twin shafts, as shown and described, and for R. F. OSGOOD,

the purpose specified. P. A. COSTIOH.

